Free Harris Channing by In Sarah's Shadow

place?"
    An appreciative smile lifted the
corners of Reg's mouth and he shook his head. "No, sir. I can tend to them.
They are very near my homestead."
    Despite his aching nose, David was
grudgingly grateful. Without meaning to, he had become attached to Roberta, and
being by her side at this particular moment was the only place he wanted to be.

 
    Chapter 7

 
    Bobbie couldn't believe her eyes.
The pair of them huddled in the corner discussing her as if she were a
child…worse, as if she weren't in the room.
    "I'll see you tomorrow, Miss
Roberta," Reg said coming to her and bowing low. He stood, his blue eyes
positively illuminated with his compassion, compassion she didn't want. She
wanted her family.
    "You're not going anywhere
without me!" she shouted, very nearly flying toward the door. "I have
to see them. I won't believe they're gone until I do."
    Reg spun around and blocked her
escape, while David reached for her from behind. Pulling her to him, he secured
her in his vice-like embrace. "You'll see them tomorrow."
    She fought against him as Reg made
good his escape, the blast of cold wind from the open door momentarily taking
her breath away.
    With the cabin door secured, David
eased his hold. "It's for your protection, Bobbie."
    "My protection?" She
heard the words, understood their meaning and yet didn't know what he meant.
"How can you protect me from this? If my family is dead, there is no
protection. I am stripped of everything."
    The reality of her situation
threatened to devour her. Her throat constricted as she fought to breathe.
    David pulled her closer, rubbing
her back. Instead of pushing him away, she clung to him. Whatever strength he
had to offer, she would accept, for God knew she needed it. Needed him.
    Tears streamed down her cheeks and
finally all the grief she tried to stifle rose to the surface and she released
the pain. Heavy sobs exploded and she crumpled, David catching her, cradling
her against his hard chest.
    “You’ll be all right,” he
whispered, carrying her to the bed. Setting her down, he knelt on the floor at
the bedside, caressing her knuckles with his work-calloused fingers.
    Her breath hitched as she fought
sorrow's spasms. Dear God, this was dreadful. Her worst nightmares come true.
Everyone she had ever loved annihilated.
    "Why can't we go now?"
she asked, pulling free of his gentle touch.
    "You have trust me. Waiting is
for the best." He lifted his gaze and his expression bespoke of his worry,
but not his worry for Sarah, but for her. How could she find a grain of good in
the desert of bad?
    "I do trust you." Lifting
her trembling hand, she stroked his bearded chin.
    He wrapped her fingers in the warm
fold of his grip, and sweetly kissed her knuckles. "I'll do my damnedest
to see to you Bobbie." His warm breath heated her skin, and she realized
she needed more than words from him. She ached for him to come closer, needed
to feel him alive and warm at her side and yet she hesitated, staring at him
through her tears.
    "Lay down, darlin'. Try to get
some rest."
    "I can't, I don't want to. I
want to see my family." She raked her fingers through her hair, tugging at
the tangles, the pain to her scalp nothing in comparison to the pain in her
heart.
    "You have to try."
    "Why? What good will it
do?" She sprang to her feet and David stood, blocking her escape. Didn't
he understand her need to get out of this place? The only way she would sleep
was if she knew she'd wake up in heaven with Ma, Pa and Robert. But no. That
wasn't what was going to happen. She was going to toss and turn only to rise
and face a new day rife with fresh horror.
    A crooked smile eased the
seriousness of his expression, yet his eyes reflected his sympathy. "Where
do you think you're going?"
    "Out of here, that's where. I
need to run until I fall down dead." She tried to move past him, but he
shifted, keeping her trapped between his bulk and the bed.
    "You know I'm not going to
allow that to happen."
    "Why